Valerie Stanfill
Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Assumed office
June 8, 2021
Appointed byJanet Mills
Preceded byAndrew Mead (Acting)
Associate Justice of the Maine Superior Court
In office
February 2020 – June 8, 2021
Appointed byJanet Mills
Preceded byLance E. Walker
Succeeded byVacant
Personal details
Born1957 or 1958 (age 65–66)[1]
EducationBryn Mawr College (BA)
University of Maine, Portland (JD)

Valerie Stanfill (born 1957 or 1958) is an American judge who serves as the chief justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. She is a former Associate Justice of the Maine Superior Court.

Education

Stanfill received her Bachelor of Arts from Bryn Mawr College in 1979 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Maine School of Law in 1985.[2][3]

Career

Prior to becoming a judge, Stanfill worked as acting director of the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic and as a visiting professor of law for the University of Maine School of Law.[4]

Stanfill was first nominated to the district court by Governor John Baldacci and she was renominated by Governor Paul LePage on February 7, 2014,[5] and sworn in on March 19, 2014.[6] She served as a judge of the Maine District Court from January 2007 to February 2020. On December 3, 2019, she was nominated to the Maine Superior Court by Governor Janet Mills[7] and has served on that court since February 2020. On May 10, 2021, Governor Mills nominated Stanfill to be the chief justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Chief Justice Leigh Saufley.[2] If confirmed, she would be the second woman to serve as chief justice.[8] On June 1, 2021, her nomination was unanimously voted out of committee.[9] On June 3, 2021, the committee endorsement was upheld by the full Senate,[10] thereby confirming Stanfill, by a vote of 0–34.[11] She was sworn in on June 8, 2021.[12]

References

  1. ^ Williams, Christopher (May 10, 2021). "Janet Mills Names Androscoggin County Judge to Lead State's Highest Court". Sun Journal. Yahoo! News. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Governor Mills Nominates Justice Valerie Stanfill as Chief Justice of Maine Supreme Judicial Court" (Press release). Office of Governor Janet T. Mills. May 10, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "Hon. Valerie Stanfill". Martindale. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  4. ^ "Veteran judge nominated to be chief justice of Maine's high court". Portland Press Herald. May 10, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  5. ^ "Governor LePage Announces Judicial Nominees". Maine.gov. February 7, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  6. ^ "Maine governor swears in 7 judges, justices". March 19, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  7. ^ "Governor Mills Nominates District Court Judges & Superior Court Justices" (Press release). Office of Governor Janet T. Mills. December 3, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  8. ^ Harrison, Judy (May 10, 2021). "Janet Mills nominates Wayne woman to lead Maine supreme court". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  9. ^ "Committee unanimously endorses Valerie Stanfill for chief justice". Bangor Daily News. June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  10. ^ "Maine Senate confirms new chief justice for state's top court". Bangor Daily News. June 4, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  11. ^ "Roll-call Details: Rollcall Details for S Roll-call #187 SC 615". legislature.maine.gov. June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  12. ^ "Governor Mills Ceremonially Swears In Chief Justice Valerie Stanfill" (Press release). Office of Governor Janet T. Mills. June 17, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.

External links

Political offices Preceded byAndrew MeadActing Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court 2021–present Incumbent


Chief justices of state and insular area supreme courts
Statewide political officials of Maine
Categories